Michael Jordan showed glimpses at North Carolina of the player and icon he'd become, but it wasn't until he arrived in Chicago that he began solidifying his status.

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Air up there

Early in his career, Jordan's dunking ability was at the forefront of his game and persona. Consecutive dunk contest wins in 1987 and '88 cemented the Air Jordan brand and brought a level of artistry to the act that was previously absent.

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Mike and Magic

Jordan was the successor to Magic Johnson in several ways—including off the court, where he built on the groundwork Johnson set with fans and corporate endorsements.

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The Air Jordan 2012

The Air Jordan 2012 is ideal for the baller who wants a high quality basketball shoe that delivers premium crafted performance and an innovative design that provides a truly customized fit and feel.

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Be like Mike

For Jordan, part of those off-the-court efforts came as a pitchman for Wheaties, Gatorade and, naturally, Nike.

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Dream Teamer

It's only fitting that the greatest basketball player of all time stand front and center for the greatest basketball team of all time. Jordan and the rest of the Dream Team steamrolled the competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

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Threepeat, Part I

Jordan and the Bulls, after years of near-misses, won the NBA Finals in 1991, '92 and '93.

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High and Low

The Air Jordan 2012 is available in two bootie options, Low & Light and High & Tight. The Low & Light option, as pictured, is an articulated innersleeve that is cut lower around the ankle for lightweight comfort and freedom of movement.

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It's a celebration

Six times in his career, Jordan hoisted the Larry O'Brien Trophy as an NBA champion. This time, it was on June 14, 1992 in Chicago, when the Bulls beat the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 6. Jordan had 33 points after going scoreless in the game's first 11 minutes and led the Bulls out of a 15-point hole at the start of the fourth quarter.

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The ruler's back

In 1995, Jordan returned, wearing No. 45, after spending nearly two years away from the game in the wake of his father's death. In 17 regular-season games, he averaged 26.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists, but the Bulls lost to Orlando in the Eastern Conference-semifinals.

The upside: By the end of the series, Jordan had begun wearing No. 23 again.

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On to the next one

After rounding back into form, Jordan led the Bulls to their fourth title overall and first of their second threepeat, a six-game victory over Gary Payton and the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Finals. Jordan, as he did in all six NBA Finals he participated in, won MVP honors.

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Three choices

The Air Jordan 2012 has three different midsole options.

The Quick, which is green, is for the quick and agile player who wants low profile, responsive cushioning built for speed.

The Explosive, which is orange, is for the strong, explosive player who needs excellent impact protection for hard landings in the paint.

The Air, which is blue, is for the versatile flight player who needs the best of both worlds in lightweight responsiveness and impact cushioning to help elevate his game.